Utility test lamp



April 2, 1940 c. H. RIBBLE x-:T AL 2,195,975

UTILITY TEST LAMP Original Filed Oct. 51, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mrz/2, l ww,

April 2, 1940- H. RIBBLE ET AL 2,195,975

UTILITY TEST LAMP Original Filed Oct. 3l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C/zaunc H RLbbZe ATTQRNE 3 Patented 2, y1940 UTILITY TEST LAMP v Chauncey v H. Ribble, Hackensack, `N. J., and Alexander J. Heidt, Woodhaven, N.l Y.; said Heidt assignor to said Ribble Application October 31, 1936, lSerial No. 108,506

' Renewed OctoberlO, 1939 1 claim. (o1. 24o-11.2)

This invention relates to utility test lamps, an object of the invention being to provide a unit of this character which permits tests of live Wires, and which constitutes a shock-proof contact unit designed to offer maximum safety and so constructed as to protect the lamp bulbs and laments even though the unit is accidentally struck or dropped. l v

A further object is to provide a unit of this character in which the lamp sockets and electric connections are embedded in a block of soft rubber, which is integral with the lamp housing or may be a separate part removable from the lamp housing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction vand vcombinations and arrangements of parts, all of which Will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section illustrating one form of our improved utility test lamp;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modication;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, illustrating another modification;

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section on the line 6`6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the electric connection removed from the casing; and

Fig.v 8 is a view in elevation of the electric connections shown in Fig. `'7.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I Il represents a housing which is of soft rubber and molded into shape, providing an open lamp chamber II at one end defined i by a Wall I2 of suitable thickness and constituting an integral part of the housing. I3 represents what may be termed a base block, although in the preferred form of our invention this block also constitutes an integral part of lamp housing. In this block I3 a pair of socket shells I4 are embedded and adapted to receive electric lamps I5 located in the chamber II and preferably in line with Window openings I6 in opposite side Walls of the housing. I1 represents a rubber cable which is projected into and has one end thereof embedded in the base of the housing, and I8, I9 and 20 are electric conductors projecting from the inner end of the cable and also embedded in the base I3. A metal bar 2| is embedded in the base |3 and is connected to electric terminals 22 and 23 on the shells I4. One of the conductors, I9, is connected to this bar 2| and the conductors I8 and Zl'lare connected to terminals 25 on the center Contact of A5 the shells I4, and these conductors I8, I9 and 20. at their other ends, are provided with testing prongs or other means for coupling the same to a source of electricity.

In manufacturing the unit, the shells I4 with 10 their terminals, the vbar 2|, the end of thek cable Il', and the conductorsv I8, I9 and 26 are assembled and located inra mold, and rubber is then placed in the mold around these parts so that they are all embedded in the rubber of the hcus- 15 ing. It is to be understood that this rubber is of the soft type which Will sustain any ordinary shocks to which it might be subjected.

In the modication illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, a base yblock 26, corresponding to the 20 base block I3 in the preferred form, constitutes a removable part and is separate from the housing 27. In this block 26 the same arrangement of shells, terminals, and other electric connections are embedded, andsimilar parts are given 25 the same reference characters in both forms of the invention. yThe housing 2l is vprovided on its inner face, preferably at its ends, with ribs 28, and the base block 26 is formed with grooves 29 to receive the ribs 28 and secure the base 30 block in the housing against accidental removal. However, to facilitate the removal of the base block, integral tabs 3|) may be .formed at the ends thereof, which act as finger holds so they may be gripped to draw thebase block out of 35 the housing. K

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8,

l. inclusive, We employ a soft rubber block or base 3| integraly with the casing, and so shape the same as to permit the electric connections to be 40 removed therefrom or replaced therein and while these electric connections are ina very real sense embedded in the block when in normal position and protected and shielded by the cushioning of the soft rubber base, they are not 45 molded into the base or block as is thecase with the forms of our invention heretofore described. In this modication the base 3| is formed with a longitudinal bore 32 to receive the vcable I1, and it is also shaped to receive the socket -shells I4 and the conductors I 8, I9 and I 2li.y The bar 2| which is connected to the terminals 22 of the socket shell is movable through a slot 33 in the .block or base 3|, so that this entire electric assemblage may be drawn out 55 reference characters to indicate like vparts as those set forth in connection with the other figures.

While We have illustrated -in all forms of vour invention three electric conductors, it is obvious that one of these conductors may be omitted, as for example the middle conductor I9, so that the invention is not limited to the particular number of conductors employed.

In the modifications, as Well as in the preferred form, all parts of the housing, including the base block, are of soft rubber and the electric conductors are housed or molded into and embedded in the soft rubber of the base block.

While we have illustrated and described what We believe to be preferred embodiments of our invention, it is obvious that various slight changes may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of parts without departing fromour invention, and hence We do not limit ourselves to the precise details set forth but consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claim.

We claim:

A utility test lamp including a housing formed with encircling Walls presenting a lamp chamber and a thickened apertured bottom formed with a pair of socket openings and a slot connecting said openings, a pair of socket shells, a bar connecting said shells, said bar and said shells being removably mounted in said socket openings and said slot, and electric conductors operatively connected with said shells, said conductors extending through the aperture in said bottom.

CHAUNCEY H. RIBBLE. ALEXANDER J. HEIDT. 

